Methods and systems for unit of use product inventory

Abstract

Method and systems for product inventory are described. In one embodiment, an inventory surface unit retains a plurality of products in an unordered state. An inventory identification unit acquires information for an orientation, and location of the plurality of products on the inventory surface unit. The inventory identification unit is disposed above the inventory surface unit. An inventory pick unit is adapted to pick a product among the plurality of products from the inventory surface unit based on the orientation and location acquired by the inventory identification unit. The inventory pick unit is disposed proximal the inventory surface unit, and the inventory pick unit is communicatively connected to the inventory identification unit. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A drug system comprising:
 a moveable surface adapted to retain a plurality of drug packages in an unordered state being free of a logically controlled positioning, wherein the moveable surface is arranged to support and move the plurality of drug packages positioned on the moveable surface, wherein the moveable surface is adapted to support the plurality of drug packages with varying shapes, sizes, and types, the moveable surface defining a closed-loop path along which the plurality of drug packages move such that the plurality of drug packages continuously recirculate along the closed-loop path when moved by the moveable surface; 
 an identification device adapted to acquire information for an orientation and a location of the plurality of drug packages moving along the closed-loop path on the moveable surface, the identification device being disposed above the closed-loop path defined by the moveable surface such that the plurality of drug packages repeatedly move past the identification device as the plurality of drug packages continuously recirculate along the closed-loop path; 
 a picker adapted to obtain an individual drug package among the plurality of drug packages from the moveable surface based on a drug package orientation and a drug package location, the picker being disposed proximal to the moveable surface; and 
 a controller communicatively connected to the identification device and the picker, the controller adapted to process the acquired information for the orientation and the location from the identification device and to instruct the picker to pick the individual drug package at the drug package orientation and the drug package location, wherein the drug package location depends on the movement of the moveable surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the orientation and the location are defined by an angle from an axis of a defined coordinate system centered at a center of rotation of the moveable surface and a radial distance from a center of the defined coordinate system. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the picker includes a programmable pick apparatus and a supplemental image camera connected to the programmable pick apparatus, the programmable pick apparatus including a moveable arm and a hand attached to an end of the moveable arm to grasp the individual drug package from the moveable surface, the supplemental image camera being connected to the identification device to communicate image data to verify the package location and the package orientation of the individual drug packages prior to grasping and confirm that the programmable picking apparatus has obtained the individual drug packages after grasping. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a packing device adapted to receive the plurality of drug packages, the packing device being adapted to prepare the plurality of drug packages for shipping with the plurality of drug packages including packages of varying shapes and sizes. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the packing device includes a circular packaging disc configured to receive and to support picked packages from the moveable surface. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the packing device includes a linear conveyor. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the packing device includes a film dispenser and is positioned to receive picked packages from the moveable surface. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable surface is disc shaped and rotatable, and wherein the picker removing a first product of the plurality of drug packages disturbs a second product of the plurality of drug packages, and wherein the identification device is configured to reacquire information for the orientation and the location of the second product moving on the moveable surface. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable surface is polygonal shaped. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a label unit to label the plurality of the drug packages, the label unit being positioned within an area reachable by the picker. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable surface is divided into quadrants with dividers. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the picker includes a six-axis robotic arm. 
     
     
       13. A fulfillment system comprising,
 a support surface adapted to retain a plurality of drug packages in an unordered state, wherein the support surface includes a moveable surface that supports and moves the plurality of drug packages, wherein the moveable surface is adapted to support drug packages varying in shape and size; 
 an identification device adapted to acquire information for a detected orientation and a detected location of the plurality of drug packages moving on the moveable surface of the support surface, the identification device being disposed above the support surface; 
 an inventory picker adapted to obtain an individual package from among the plurality of drug packages on the support surface based on a projected orientation and a projected location said individual package will have as the moveable surface moves, the inventory picker being disposed proximal to the support surface; and 
 a controller communicatively connected to the identification device and the inventory picker, the controller adapted to process the acquired information for the detected orientation and the detected location from the identification device to generate the projected orientation and the projected location and to instruct the inventory picker to obtain the individual package at the projected orientation and the projected location, wherein the controller is adapted to generate the projected orientation and the projected location by extrapolation based on the detected orientation and the detected position and the movement of the moveable surface after the detected orientation and the detected position were acquired by the identification device. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of drug packages includes at least one drug manufacture packaged drug product that has been sealed and closed at a direction of a drug manufacturer that manufactured drug contained with the drug manufacture packaged drug product. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the identification device is adapted to reacquire information for the detected orientation and the detected location of a first package moving on the moveable surface of the support surface after the inventory picker disturbs the first package by altering at least one of an orientation of the first package on the moveable surface or a location of the first package on the moveable surface. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller determines the projected location relative to a defined coordinate system mapped onto the moveable surface. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the inventory picker includes a programmable pick apparatus and a supplemental image camera connected to the programmable pick apparatus, the programmable pick apparatus including a moveable arm and a grasper attached to an end of the moveable arm to select the package from the support surface, the supplemental image camera being connected to the identification device to communicate image data to verify a position of the package prior to picking and confirm that the programmable picking apparatus has obtained the package after selecting. 
     
     
       18. A system comprising:
 a support surface adapted to retain a plurality of drug packages in an unordered state being free of a logically controlled positioning, wherein the support surface includes a moveable surface that visibly supports and moves the plurality of drug packages positioned on the moveable surface, wherein the moveable surface is a continuous surface to repeatedly move one of the plurality of drug packages and is adapted to support the plurality of drug packages with varying shapes, sizes, and types; 
 an inventory identification unit adapted to acquire information for a detected orientation and a detected location of the plurality of drug packages moving on the moveable surface of the support surface, the inventory identification unit being disposed above the support surface with the plurality of drug packages on the moveable surface repeatedly moving past the inventory identification unit until ordered; 
 a picker adapted to obtain an individual package among the plurality of drug packages from the moveable surface based on a projected orientation and a projected location said individual package will have relative to the picker, the picker being disposed proximal to the support surface; and 
 a control subsystem communicatively connected to the inventory identification unit and the picker, the control subsystem adapted to process the acquired information for the detected orientation and the detected location from the inventory identification unit to generate the projected orientation and the projected location and to instruct the picker to pick an ordered, individual package at the projected orientation and the projected location, wherein the detected location, relative to the picker, is different than the projected location when the detected location is acquired by the inventory identification unit. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the moveable surface provides open access storage of the plurality of drug packages on the support surface while the plurality of drug packages is retained in the unordered state with the plurality of drug package being open upwardly above and horizontally outwardly from the moveable surface so the inventory identification unit images the plurality of drug packages from above, laterally, or both. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the picker is positioned outside the perimeter of the moveable surface and configured to extend over the moveable surface to pick the individual package and not interfere with the inventory identification unit imaging the plurality of drug packages on the moveable surface. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the moveable surface has an annulus shape with an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein the moveable surface includes an inner guard along the inner edge and an outer guard along the outer edge.